DIY Geometric Kids Art Table – September Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest Entry

My little toddler has discovered the wonderful world of coloring.  He adores scribbling with crayons and markers.  I wanted to create a bright and colorful space to encourage his artistic abilities.  I wanted to build him an art table!  Today I will share with you how I built my little toddler’s art table and how I applied its finish.  However, before I dive into the steps, I want to introduce you to the Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest!

(For sneak peeks on upcoming projects follow me on Facebook and Instagram!)

The Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest is a monthly furniture decorating contest.  Each month there is a new theme and a new sponsor.  September’s theme is geometry, and September’s sponsor is General Finishes!

General Finishes carries a nice variety of water based and oil based finishes.  I think they are best known for their gel stains.  (I have been wanting to try their gel stain for quite some time now.)  Each participant received one quart of a General Finishes product, and the winner will receive a full case of General Finishes products. This post is my first entry in the Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest, and I received one quart of Milk Paint from General Finishes.

September’s fab hosts are Lynn from Fern Avenue and Carrie at Thirty Eight Street.  Our fab hosts kicked off this month’s contest with geometric themed pieces of their own.  Be sure to check out Lynn’s console table furniture flip and Carrie’s cabinet flip.  If you are a blogger and you are interested in participating in future contests, please send an email to info@fabfurnitureflippincontest.com.

My little toddler’s art table is knock off of an art table I found while browsing Pottery Barn Kids.  The table retails for $349.  With taxes and shipping, I was able to create my version for a quarter of the price.  The table is 50.5” long, 27.5” wide and 24” tall.

The following video shows the art table paper roll in action:

Disclosure:  This post contains affliate links.  I received one quart of General Finishes Milk paint for free.

Tools and Supplies

The following items are some of the tools and supplies I gathered to build and finish the kids art table:

• General Finishes Milk Paint (Snow White)
• Pine Stain
• Gloss Varnish
• Acrylic craft paints (I used Delta Ceramcoat in the following colors)
  • Sunset
  • True turquoise
  • Ultra blue
• 1” painters tape
• Foam Brushes
• Kreg Jig (for joining boards)
• Kreg Right Angle Clamps
• 1.25” Coarse Kreg Pocket Hole Screws
• Japanese Handsaw and Guide
• Rockwell VersaCut Circular Saw with Track Guide
• Jigsaw (optional – for tapering legs)
• Drill/driver
• Orbital Sander equipped with sandpaper ranging from 100 grit to 220 grit
• Wood filler
• Wood glue
• Lumber (cut list)
  • A – 1x6x26″ (2)
  • B – 1x4x26” (4)
  • C – 1x4x50.5” (2)
  • D – 1x4x23.5” (4) – table legs
  • E – 1x4x24.5” (2)
  • F – 1x3x24.5” (2)
  • G – 1x3x28.5” (2)
  • I – 3/4” plywood at 26×35.5”
• Wooden dowel at 26” long (optional – for paper roll)

Building the Art Table

Learning SketchUp is definitely on my to-do list!

Update:  Hey guys, check out Ana White’s knockoff version of the art table with free SketchUp plans plus she has put together a nice video tutorial as well!

Step 1:  Cut the boards to the appropriate lengths.

I used my Japanese handsaw and guide to cut all the boards down to the appropriate lengths.  I used my mini-circular saw to rip the plywood into the appropriate dimension.

Step 2:  Create pocket holes

With my Kreg Jig and a drill, I created a ton of pocket holes for joining the boards together.

Step 3:  Assemble the tabletop.

I created the table top by joining pieces A, B, C and I.

Step 4:  Taper the legs (optional)

I tapered the table’s legs (piece D) with a jigsaw.

Step 5:  Drill hole in 2 table legs for paper roll (optional)

I drilled a hole 6” from the top of the leg for holding a paper roll.  Heh, I could have done a better job drilling the hole.

Step 6:  Assemble the table base

To create the base of the table, I first joined boards D (2) to F.

For extra leg support, I attached board E.

Finally, I joined each pair of legs with boards G.

Step 7:  Attach the tabletop to the table base

I flipped the tabletop upside down and attached the based.

Finishing  the Art Table

After a good bit of sanding, I was ready for the really fun part:  painting!

Step 1:  Apply the base coat

I applied 3 coats of General Finishes Milk Paint in Snow White.  This was my first time using General Finishes Milk Paint and it won’t be the last.  The Milk Paint was very easy to apply and had very rich color.

Step 2:  Stain the inside of the storage cubbies (optional)

I love two-toned finishes.  Especially when they are paired with the color white.  Midway through painting, I decided that’s a look I wanted in the art table and I am very pleased the results!

Step 3:  Tape off a geometric pattern

With 1” painters tape, I taped off the perimeter of the table top.  Then I applied a few strips of tape from one edge to another.  And finally, I applied smaller strips of tape.

Step 4:  Paint the sections

I used 3 different colors of acrylic craft paint to fill in each section of tape.

Step 5:  Seal with a varnish

For the final step, I sealed the table with 3 coats of gloss varnish.

The Finished Art Table

This art table is one of my favorite builds so far.  I love the geometric pattern, and I adore how the table is so bright and cheery.